In an unexpected twist, the political world starts today with circumstances that look eerily similar to those from 24 hours ago: a bipartisan Senate deal is taking shape and a fractured House remains unpredictable. The point of yesterday, apparently, was to waste a day, humiliate House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), and bring the nation just a little closer to default.

After House Republicans rejected a series of desperate attempts by Boehner to make them happy, attention turned back to the Senate, which waited until after the lower chamber imploded to renew its talks. By all appearances, the basic framework of an agreement is in place.

Tuesday might have ended with the Senate on the cusp of a deal to avert a default, but it also featured Boehner bowing and scraping to his House crazies to come up with a competing plan that failed.

This is a sad and sickening spectacle, like nothing I’ve ever seen in my life. Not as bad as Watergate, you say? I beg to differ. However this turns out this has been in its way worse than Watergate. Watergate ultimately vindicated our system against the machinations of one sociopath. It took time, because he was a president. But even he ultimately observed democratic norms and, when cornered, did the honorable thing.

Today, we have a clavern of sociopaths who know nothing of honor, and we have no easy way to stop them. Except at the ballot box. Except that they’ve rigged that, too, with their House districts. They’ve rigged the whole game so that they light the match and then point at President Obama and shout: “Look! Fire!” And overseeing it all is House Speaker John Boehner, as of Tuesday officially the worst high-ranking elected officer in the history of the United States.

Here’s how grave the House Republicans’ condition has become: They’re now in the care of a mortician.

In the early minutes of a marathon meeting of House Republicans on Tuesday morning, Rep. Steve Southerland, a funeral director from Florida, rose to suggest the lawmakers sing “Amazing Grace” — and his colleagues joined him in a rendition of the burial hymn.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

It was an appropriate choice, for the House GOP is practicing its own form of mortuary science: It is burying both the Republican brand and America’s standing in the world.

…. A great portion of the courtier press that now expresses horror at what is going on now went gleefully along for the ride as it became inevitable. Any members of that courtier press who relished the pursuit of Bill Clinton’s penis, or conducted the absurd campaign of untruth that was waged against Al Gore between 1999 and 2000 lost the right years ago credibly to denounce conservative extremism and Republican vandalism.

That means you, Roger Simon of Politico, who was so shocked the other day to discover that racism may have afflicted the process of government since the president’s election, but who once claimed to right to make candidates like Gore “jump through hoops” for the pure hella-fun of it.

That means you, Chris Matthews, who chased the presidential dick for two years, all the way through an impeachment process that was a constitutional absurdity, but who now discovers that the campaign of destruction never truly stopped.

That means you, Andrew Sullivan, with your current existential torment over How It Came To This….

…… This means all of you who went along for the ride on torture, and on Iraq, and who hid under the bed after 9/11. This is how the power came to rest with Ted Yoho, who is a fool and a know-nothing. This is how historical inevitability is created. This is how its momentum becomes unstoppable. This is how the wreckage piles up.

As we careen headlong toward the debt ceiling deadline, with the House Republicans and Speaker John Boehner in full Three-Stooges-Trying-To-Fix-The-Plumbing mode, the issue area that’s been overshadowed by the grandstanding, political props and brinksmanship is government spending itself.

The budget deficit is really the 4,000 pound gorilla in the room and the Republicans refuse to discuss anything other than the fact that employer mandate for the dreaded Affordable Care Act begins a year after the individual mandate. Yes, we’re in the middle of a showdown over the debt because of Obamacare rather than, you know, spending and fiscal responsibility.

Why aren’t they talking about the deficit? That’s easy: they can’t say anything bad about it because the Obama administration’s record on the deficit is kind of stellar.

TPM: McCain: ‘Republicans Have To Understand We Have Lost This Battle’

With the government shutdown in its third week and the United States dangerously close to the debt limit, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) urged members of his party on Tuesday to stop digging.

“It’s very, very serious,” McCain said, as quoted by the New York Times. “Republicans have to understand we have lost this battle, as I predicted weeks ago, that we would not be able to win because we were demanding something that was not achievable.”

Barring an accident of political brinksmanship, the United States will not default on its debts and other obligations.

Economic conditions provide exactly zero reasons to worry that the U.S. cannot service its debts. The danger in the current crisis, therefore, is not catastrophic economic collapse.

Rather, the danger is that the House’s tea party Republicans, in their zeal to block President Barack Obama’s policies, especially on health care, have damaged investors’ long-term trust in the U.S. government. And by thwarting the principle of majority rule, they have demonstrated a disrupting power that they may wield into the next decade, causing further erosion in confidence.

As the federal government enters its sixteenth day of shutdown and stands just hours away from defaulting on the national debt, the largest newspaper in Texas has pulled its endorsement of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). The conservative lawmaker delivered a 21-hour speech on Sep. 24, urging Senate and House Republicans to vote against any government funding measure that includes appropriations for President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, and is viewed as at least partially responsible for the current impasse.

President Obama says goodbye to former President George H. W. Bush and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, prior to departure from Easterwood Field landing zone, in College Station, Texas, Oct. 16, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)

Neighbors in West Newton, Mass., react as the President headed their way after speaking at an event next door, Oct. 16, 2010 (Photo by Pete Souza)

What’s more, the list of failures eventually becomes unsustainable. A Democratic source on Capitol Hill last night sent around a brutal collection of bills Boehner asked his members to support, only to see his own House GOP conference reject his appeals: a grand bargain, a debt-ceiling bill in 2011, a payroll tax extension, a transportation bill, a farm bill, one fiscal-cliff bill, another fiscal-cliff bill, another farm bill, and then yesterday. I think my source might have even missed a couple.

As we discussed a couple of weeks ago, it seems the political mainstream is still coming to terms with a dynamic for which there is no modern precedent: a Speaker of the House with no power, no backbone, and no prospects for success. Boehner isn’t just failing in basic tasks, he’s failing as Speaker at a historic level.

When Boehner reflects on his tenure, what can he even offer as a defense? He has one shutdown, two debt-ceiling crises, and no accomplishments. Republicans aren’t listening to him and Democrats don’t see the point in trying to negotiate with him. The Speaker’s record has become one, long train-wreck.

Exactly, and what’s scarier still are the enablers that looked the other way and allowed this madness to fester: the ‘both sides do it’
media, the moderate Republicans who stood by and let the crazy caucus destroy their party because they were so terrified of being primaried. They share the blame for this debacle along with Boehner’s inept speakership. The list of enablers is very telling. But American people must use the 2014 midterms to correct the nightmare of 2010. Our lives depend on it. It’s time to lance the GOP boil.

Hey everybody! No expectation to ever keep up, well, at least not for the next month or so. Have been given a deadline of move-out by 12/2 at the latest, as the new owners take possession then. Lesson in downsizing a quarter century of lifestyle in 42 days. Can MightyP get it done? Perhaps, we shall see. Still needing all your Light around me, if you have any extra to spare!! ;) (the wonderful thing about Light is there always an unlimited supply!!) bye for now. {{{{PBO}}}} {{{TOD}}}

Ohh Pamela – keep us informed – we have just put a deposit on the “down sized” unit – that isn’t built yet – in theory we have time – in practise I have no doubt it will all be last minute. Do hope it all goes well for you – I can sure understand some of the issues.

I just heard rumours from a friend that there is a deal on the debt ceiling. I just wanted to leave it here to be able to say later “HA I said so” :D in case this is really more than a rumour. Also, that rumour says Boehner caved.

Already hearing things like, this is just kicking the can down the road, it sets us up for going through this again, PBO caved, etc.

Well, here is the problem in that type of thinking. Sure it would have been nice to have a full year CR and an unlimited raising of the debt ceiling, but these are things the public really understand. By accepting the Senate deal, the GOP has really gotten nothing in public’s viewpoint and they have been the ones to cave after a month of throwing a temper tantrum.

If the Dems held out for a longer deal than they would have become the villians. And PBO would appear to b the unreasonable one. And if the GOP comes after OCare again or throws more temper tantrums leading up to the next CR and ceiling raise, the public will turn on them even quicker and with more vehemence.

PBO and the Dems come out of this looking strong but not stubborn. The GOP comes out of this looking like crybabies that chickened out at the last second.

I don’t think the crybaby/chicken is quite the right description. Irrational, unrealistic and insane would be my words to describe the GOP.

Despite the short time before “next time”, the GOP now know the President and the dems are not going to be blackmailed, there is also a demand for budget meetings before Dec 15 as part of the legislation.

I agree, they gambled all their marbles on this one trick and caused a lot of pain for their own constituents. They can not do this again with 2014 right around the corner. Could it be Boehner was actually giving the teanuts enough rope for them to hang themselves? He really has no problem with is keeping his position after all.

I don’t think Boehner has enough smarts for that cookemom – he perhaps misguidedly thought he had some influence with them – but more likely did not believe the President would not accept anything other than a clean bill.

The ONLY positive seems to be that Boehner does not want to be charged with crashing the economy – may simply be because of his own investments – but who would ever know.

It was fascinating yesterday to see so many pundits and jackals struggling with the notion that there was a big difference between the (non-hostage taking) talks in the senate between Majority Leader Reid and Mitch McConnell and the house ransom note. Brianna Keliar of CNN pressed Jay Carney about the notion that this was negotiating and PBO said he was not going to negotiate. It’s make your head hurt because the media was desperately looking for some way to push the cave nonsense. But thankfully, several bloggers set them straight and broke it down so even they could understand what was happening. Hint: No cookies for doing your job. Period.

What will come as no surprise to anyone here is that as the debt ceiling government shutdown is resolved
MSNBC will shift its gears to push Impeachment discussion.
The MSM will do whatever they can to deprive President Obama and his administration of positive press coverage.

Hearsay from Hillary Clinton: On Joe Biden and the Osama bin Laden raid

No ears reported any mention of whatever 2016 ambitions Clinton might have. But state Rep. Tom Taylor, R-Dunwoody, said the former first lady dropped a huge hint. “I know she’s running for president now, because toward the end, she was asked about the Osama bin Laden raid. She took 25 minutes to answer,” Taylor said. “Without turning the knife too deeply, she put it to [Vice President Joe] Biden.”
Time and time again, Taylor said, Clinton mentioned the vice president’s opposition to the raid, while characterizing herself and Leon Panetta, then director of the Central Intelligence Agency, as the action’s most fierce advocates.

I definitely want a Democratic President next time. I also think HRC made a good Secretary of State and has the necessary experience for the office, but she is no PBO in it for the people and with visions of what is needed in the long run. I will never forget her dishonesty and capitulations in her ’08 campaign. She truly defines a politician whereas PBO is a statesman.

If I recall correctly, on several occasions, VP Biden has said in speeches that he and most of the cabinet counseled against the mission and PBO decided to go for it. Paid speech, closed press, Hill is practicing rethug revisionism…

I know I’m in the minority here thinking that Hillary should just hang up her political aspirations.

When I think of her, I think of PUMAs (in my mind synonymous with CodePink) and all the other emoprogs who can find nothing they like from the most level-headed and reasonable President in living memory.

I think of Mark Penn and Lanny Davis.

I think of Bill rattling around the White House with nothing to do but to get in trouble.

I think that outside of the Obama Administration, if she were President, you’d have to go back to the 1970s Carter Administration to find one that didn’t include either a Bush or a Clinton.

Enough already!

I’m for Joe 100%. And if he decides to not seek the office, Martin O’Malley or Elizabeth Warren look good to me.

Yes, it’s the say-whatever-to-get-ahead and it’s all the freaking high value donors to whom they are beholden. The outsized PUMAS, Lady de Rothchilds and Susie Tompkins Buell and Ed Rendell. It really creeps me out.

I’m with you Arapaho415. I do not like her, trust her. I remember her comment during her run against our guy when they asked her if she thought Obama was a Muslim. ” No….not at far as I know”. Her adding that last bit did it for me. She is out for herself. She has it in the bag for 2016? Well didn’t she have it in the bag in 2008?

Isn’t there some sort of rule against all of the shenanigans that have gone on with Ted Cruz’s interference with the House? Seems like he should have run to be a Representative instead of a Senator. It sure paints a picture of ineptitude for Boehner and should give us fear in JB being 3rd from the office of the presidency. Should also be a rule that anyone in line for the presidency needs more than just a district within a state that elected them. I cannot even email Boehner since I am not in his constituency yet he affects my rights too.

Okay, finally got around to reading Pierec this morning. Although I can get frustrated with him from time to time, he is still one of the best political writers there is out there and this mornings post, partly quoted above, may well be the best he has ever done. Please, fellow twitterers, tweet the hell out of this.

This is an absolute must read, history lesson and what we cannot afford to do going forward. Pierce at his best. http://t.co/rzdtSYSPba

This is one of those posts where you, while reading it, can hear him saying these words with all the important inflections, pauses, etc. I wish Nancy or some other Dem would read this from House floor and have it put into Congressional Record.

Chips, can this anniversary be recognized on a future post today? thank you!

45th Anniversary: Hope and Defiance: The Black Power Salute That Rocked the 1968 Olympics

When Olympic sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos stood atop the medal podium at the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City, bowed their heads and raised black-gloved fists during the playing of the national anthem, millions of their fellow Americans were outraged. But countless millions more around the globe thrilled to the sight of two men standing before the world, unafraid, expressing disillusionment with a nation that so often fell, and still falls, so short of its promise.

Why doesn’t Wolf spend his time in reminding his viewers that a freshman Senator, in office less than 9 months, has been giving the power to shutdown the government with the cooperation of less than 10% of the House?

And then that same freshman Senator appeared at a rally this weekend decrying the shutdown that he caused?

It makes no sense to keep harping on a vote that occurred 7 years ago that was completely inconsequential.

It’s a good thing I don’t watch CNN; just reading about their tea party-supporting antics makes me physically ill.

Let me get this straight…. Ted Cruz led a protest march this weekend against the government shutdown he CAUSED?…. pic.twitter.com/xzMzotgOrQ

This is the interview PBO did with the local New York TV yesterday. There were some GOP gotcha questions – but he answered them all perfectly & when once interrupted – carried on with his reply. At about 8.15 – a lovely question – and great answer about something other than the GOP and the budget and the closing government. A delight – amid all the drama – sometimes life is good :)

Thank you so much for posting this interview. It was terrific. What a treat. Love him so much. BTW, when he says you asked me a question, now let me answer it – there were virtual high fives all around. Nicely done Sir…..

Can’t see it, but will try later. But one thing that is obvious in all his interviews, unlike his rpedecessor, he does not require advance knowledge of questions or try to control the topics of an interview.

Am I the only one who wants to scream each time an interviewer or a pundit seems to fault President Obama because he hasn’t succeeded in “bipartisanship” and “the country is now more divided than ever” ? And… oh my God.. that woman seemed to subscribe to the fantasy of the magical macho president (Christie putting everyone in a room… really ?)

I think we ought to educate the pundits and journalists. Seriously. They don’t have any historical, sociological perspective. President Obama IS NOT AT FAULT, you idiots !!!!! It’s all about white resentment, and profound insecurity in a changing world. President Obama’s task is MORE DIFFICULT because of that.

Andrew Sullivan wrote a good article about it. Sorry I don’t have the link right now. There are other articles from time to time on the same subjects.

Let’s promise ourselves that we’ll TWEET to those ignorant fools all those articles so they, maybe, GET A CLUE ??

Gosh, it’s like accusing Jackie Robinson of being at fault for all the hate he had to endure…

As I said, GOP friendly interviewer – they will not stop blaming the President for what the republicans do – but PBO has the answers – every time. Sullivan is a fair weather friend and racist. Glad there is no link. To quote Pierce from the great piece above

“A great portion of the courtier press that now expresses horror at what is going on now went gleefully along for the ride as it became inevitable.” ………
“That means you, Andrew Sullivan, with your current existential torment over How It Came To This. (Pro tip: The Bell Curve? Betsy McCaughey on health-care? Fifth-column liberals? You helped.)”

“It’s at least possible with sinking poll numbers for the Republicans, with a [GOP] brand that is badly damaged as the party that can’t govern responsibly and is reckless that they’re going to say, ‘All right, what can we do that will be in our political interest and also do tough things?’” said Frank Sharry, executive director of the immigration reform group America’s Voice. “That’s where immigration could fill the bill.”

The White House and Democrats are “ready” to jump back into the immigration fray when the fiscal crises ends, Sharry said. And advocates are already drawing up their plans to put immigration back on the agenda — plans they’ll likely initiate the morning after a fiscal deal is struck.
“We’re talking about it. We want to be next up and we’re going to position ourselves that way,” Sharry said. “There are different people doing different things, and our movement will be increasingly confrontational with Republicans, including civil disobedience. A lot of people are going to say, ‘We’re not going to wait.’”

…When it was over, and all the wounded evacuated, Swenson delivered a scathing sworn statement about the lack of artillery and air support that day, despite his repeated calls for help.

“When I’m being second-guessed by … somebody that’s sitting in an air-conditioned (operations center) why (the) hell am I even out there in the first place?” he said in the statement. “I definitely had some choice commentary,” Swenson says. “Was I bitter? I was angry.”

He quit the Army, thinking his angry words had ruined his career. “Those choice comments sometimes chase you down,” he says. But Swenson missed being a soldier. So now the first Army officer since Vietnam to receive the Medal of Honor has asked to come back on active duty.

MSM will shift in “rehabilitate the republicans” mode, don’t you know ? Theme for the rest of the week: ACA rollout “disaster”. Next week: the budget… and how Medicare, Social Security just HAVE to, HAVE to, be dealth with… No mention of corporate subsidies of course…

Sorry for the negativity, but this is realistic I think…

As for what democrats are going to do… it seems that President Obama wants to make a new push for immigration reform, while the republicans are weakened politically. He sees an opening and he won’t miss the opportunity ; he’s really oriented towards results. I wish though that he doesn’t neglect the “education” of the public… because in the long term it helps in policy battles against a party that is SOLELY interested in “messaging” and devotes an awful lot of time and money to create national “narratives”.

Lifted from my FB. While I’m doing everything in my power to ensure a Dem Victory; no way I’m standing with fast Eddie — I’d go to jail for pimp-slapping the bastard. Thankful, I won’t have to; I’ll be at a conference in the western part of my state on Friday.

“Delco Victory 2013
ALL EYES ON DELCO: This Friday, October 18th 2013 we will be holding a press conference at the Media Courthouse steps, former Governor Ed Rendell will join the Delco Victory 2013 team to discuss the deteriorating leadership of the County & State GOP.”